“Where I come from, we had to be so careful. Snakes, scorpions, spiders – they could all kill you.”

  “Wow, yes. I remember reading about those. America had some dangerous wildlife too, but not as much as Africa. I believe that each species was designed to fit within its local ecosystem, where it was provided with ways to obtain food and protect itself and its kind. There was no evil in this, only a natural desire to survive. God has now removed those previous desires and established different ways of ensuring that the ecosystem on the New Earth can be sustained for eternity.”

  “I still don’t understand why death had to be in the process at all,” said Adilah thoughtfully.

  “On the Old Earth, death was essential to preserve the balance of populations. Local environments would soon have become overloaded if numbers had increased without a corresponding decrease due to death. Death was an essential part of that stage in God’s overall plan. It also marked the transition from one age to another. It looked very frightening from the perspective of a creature in the Previous Age, as most hadn’t learnt to trust in their creator to hold them through the transition and they didn’t know what lay beyond it. Now, can I ask you something about your own experience?”

  “Yes,” replied Adilah, with her beautiful shy smile.

  “When you died, did you feel frightened?”

  Adilah thought for a moment.

  “When I was in the flames the pain was so bad that I couldn’t think clearly, but, yes, I was frightened. I survived for about a week but I knew that my body had begun to shut down. My hair had all been burned off and my face disfigured, but somehow underneath all the pain and suffering, I had peace. I knew that Friend was with me. In the last two days I felt no pain and I was in some kind of a strange sleep. I didn’t dream but I did know that someone was with me and that I was happy to leave my suffering behind. Friend gave me the feeling that I was going to be ok. I can’t tell you exactly when I died. At some point I was in a vast space moving toward a beautiful light. I don’t know if I was dreaming or whether my body had given up by then. The next thing I knew I woke up in Jesus’ home and … here I am.”

  “Yes, Ruach, the Holy Spirit, the one you call ‘Friend’, helps every living being in those final moments to let go. Most people do not recognise her, but she works with each person and creature at those times. Even those who die suddenly and unexpectedly, she comforts during their transition. It seems our spirit leaves our bodies and is then re-homed in our resurrection bodies. We become whole again; mind, body and spirit.”

  “So, every animal is raised as well?”

  “Not every individual creature, but the life force that was hosted by a particular body returns to Papa and it can be re-assigned. All life comes from God. All life is Papa sharing consciousness with creation.”

  “So, creation is God?”

  “All creatures live and move and have their being in God. They are each an embodiment of the divine life, but not the totality of it. Nothing exists apart from Papa.”

  “Is that why you and Jesus call God ‘Papa’?”

  “Yes, Jesus is the great example of the character of God. He is a human being just like us but has the full nature of God, so he shows us our maximum divine potential. And he shows us how we can relate to God – the ground of all being, the source of all, the one Jesus calls Papa – as a parent. That’s why we can call God Papa – or Mama, it makes no difference. God is love, and love is the reason for everything. It’s the heart of the whole process and where all things are heading – even snakes!”

  “These thoughts are so big!” gasped Adilah and laughed.

  “They certainly are,” chuckled Harmony, “but everyone has ages to explore them.”

  *

  Evenings, when several of the women in the community would gather in one of the cabins to sing, were Adilah’s favourite time of day. Communal singing was the warmest memory from her childhood. She loved the sound of female voices rising and falling in unison, and she took pride in her ability to harmonise.

  “Given my name, this should be something I’m good at,” joked Harmony one evening.

  This amused Adilah so greatly that she was unable to stifle her laughter even after the singing began. It eventually sent the others off into contagious giggles until everyone in the cabin was laughing so hard that Margot, hearing the cacophony from the other side of the camp, dropped her knife and fork and came running to see what was wrong. Bursting in to Adilah’s cabin and finding women strewn about the main living room in stages of incapacity, Margot was soon leaning on Harmony, infected with laughter too. Before long the remaining women in the settlement were caught up in the firestorm of mirth that echoed through the trees.

  In the coming days Harmony was amused by how funny her simple pun had seemed to Adilah, but she was also aware how the outbreak of laughter had released something in the community. Humour had begun to become part of everyday interaction.

  “This has begun to happen in our settlement, too,” Anne said to Harmony as they compared notes on an evening walk. “And it seems to me that the women are more easily able to access their full range of emotions because of it.”

  “Yes, it’s as though laughter has helped to break down the dam that was holding back all kinds of emotions. And tears of sadness can flow more easily too,” agreed Harmony. The two friends continued their walk and returned home full of thankfulness for the ways in which Papa God’s purposes were so clearly being worked out amongst the women, whom they had grown to know and hold very dear.

  Jubilee Changeover

  Many years later, Anne and Harmony were again enjoying an evening walk when they noticed a distinctively tall figure clothed in radiant colours moving at pace towards them.

  “An angel!” gasped Anne.

  “Hello Anne. Howdy Harmony. I’ve got some news for you. Jesus is giving notice that the first jubilee period is nearly complete. Your team will gather in the City in one month’s time. Start preparing your community for transition.”

  “Thank you. We understand,” said Harmony, and then turning to Anne, “This means we will be moving on from here. It’s the end of the first fifty-year jubilee period.”

  “I imagine some of the women will be really upset to have to part with their friends,” replied Anne, “but we know it’s for their long-term good.”

  “Change brings new challenges,” agreed the angel. “The process is designed to bring growth for everyone. I must go to give the news to Sylvia and Carlos now. Good to see you.”

  “Send our love,” called Harmony as the angel headed off down the road.

  “Well, there we go!” said Harmony. “Can you believe it’s already fifty years since we came to these villages? It seems to have passed so quickly, don’t you think?”

  “For us it did,” replied Anne. “I’m not sure some of the women feel the same, but it’ll be interesting to see how they respond.”

  The two friends headed back to their cabins in their respective clearings in the forest, both pondering the task that lay ahead of them but also looking forward to the gathering in the City.

  *

  Despite having lived for years in their shared home, Carlos and Sylvia were unused to anyone knocking on their door late in the evening. Carlos got up from the table where he had been absorbed in recreating some of the sights of the Eternal City using watercolours in his sketchbook. Opening the door, he was overjoyed to be greeted by an angel.

  “Time to get ready,” said the angel. “Jesus has called a meeting for Team Thomas in the City in a month’s time. The first jubilee transition is coming!”

  “So, we’re moving on?” said Sylvia, turning to Carlos.

  The angel explained a few more details before heading onwards. Sylvia and Carlos sat down together in their front room and began discussing what the jubilee might mean for some of the villagers.

  “If Imelda and Dawn are separated, that will put an end to their clothing enterprises,” reflected Sylvia.

  “I wonder if Fran and Kelly will end up in the same place?” mused Carlos. “Hard to know which would be better for them?”

  “I’m glad we can leave it up to Jesus. Together with Ruach, they will have the best idea of where each person should go next.”

  *

  “Where’s Yan?” asked the angel. “I have something to tell you both.”

  “He’ll be meditating about now,” said Yvonne. “He lives just round the corner. Let’s go and find him.”

  Yan came to his door in a toga looking calm and serene, but his face lit up when he saw the angel, who proceeded to explain the impending transition to them both.

  Waving the angel off, the two friends began to marvel at how the time had passed. They had watched Gerty, Eric and the other children grow into wise young people, and they had rejoiced at the progress Johan and Ebo had made in letting go of their prejudices and finding a path towards full reconciliation.

  “We’re going to miss everyone, aren’t we?” said Yan, thoughtfully

  Yvonne paused before replying, as tears began to well up in her eyes.

  “Oh yes, we will. The love we have for these people is deep, but I believe that, in time, we will be seeing them again.”

  “I don’t doubt it,” said Yan gently, also visibly emotional.

  *

  “How do you feel?” asked the angel.

  “Well, I’ll be glad to see the team,” replied Bull.

  “Are you finding it hard here, guys?”

  “It’s been challenging,” said Thomas. “Sometimes it’s been hard to remain patient and kind, but we’ve tried to keep the big picture in mind and that’s helped us to endure the process.”

  The angel looked around their cabin. “You really have a welcoming home. Do any of the men come and visit you here?”

  “We began to get some visitors and some took a few steps forward, but then they’d usually take a few steps back, which is what we expected knowing the type of people that are here. Progress is slow and there is much to work through.”

  The angel nodded. “As you know, agape love never insists on its own way. There’s no use in trying to force anything. I’d best be off. I’ve seen all of Team Thomas now, so I’ll head back to the City and tell Jesus that you have all been notified.”

  “Am I allowed to feel excited about the end of this first period?” asked Bull after the angel had left.

  Thomas took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He approached his friend and wrapped his arms around him.

  “I love you, brother,” Thomas said gently. “I’m glad you’ve been with me.”

  Bull loved a hug and squeezed Thomas back, “I love you too, mate. I wonder what’s next for us?”

  They stood shoulder to shoulder and looked out of the window down the valley towards the camp.

  “This is going to be interesting,” said Thomas.

  *

  “That’s right, it’s meant to feel different,” said Jesus, handing Yvonne the drink he had just made for her. “Kairos time works much better for humans than chronos time. Kairos is about quality, whereas chronos is about quantity – seconds, minutes, hours. In kairos time, you don’t think about how it’s measured, you are just in the moment.”

  “Ok, I think we’re all here,” he said looking around as he made his way to a large table.

  Yvonne followed, grateful for the answer to her question about why the fifty years had not felt like a long time.

  The team took their places around the table as it was time for the review of the first jubilee.

  “Friends, I’m so excited to hear about your first jubilee period!” Jesus was animated and his pleasure at seeing Thomas’ whole team again was clear.

  “Thomas and Bull, let’s hear from you.”

  “Our community is situated a long way from the City,” began Bull. “We always felt reassured knowing Cedric, our watchful seraph, was on hand nearby. It’s made up of a couple of hundred tough men from gangs around the world, all of whom have been hardened by their experiences in the Previous Age. Initially they fought amongst themselves to see who would come out on top. There were regular brawls in the town square, but they soon realised it wasn’t getting them anywhere.

  In the end, they decided to create temporary committees by drawing names at random. It worked, as none of them wanted to be held responsible for long and it meant everyone got a chance to make their mark. At times things got brutal, and Cedric had to intervene when they tried to expel one of the men from the community. Order seemed to settle after some time, but then the main challenge they faced was boredom. The majority of the men were unwilling to find beauty in each other and their everyday life, which meant they got desperately frustrated.”

  “Quite early on, we built a place outside of the settlement so that we could meditate in peace and demonstrate the technique to others,” continued Thomas. “A few of the men were interested in what we were doing and began meditating privately. We’ve begun to see a noticeable maturing in some of the men, and they’ve been sharing with others about how it’s helped them come up with new ideas and get more out of their lives.”

  Jesus nodded. “It’s certainly been a challenging assignment for you. These were men with hard hearts. You have set them a good example and modelled agape love in that place. Several in your community have made progress.”

  Jesus now turned to Carlos and Sylvia. “And in your village?”

  “Life there has mostly reached a stalemate,” began Sylvia. “The past fifty years has seen people start to take small steps towards relationships with one another, but mostly for selfish reasons.”

  “Their compulsion to be ‘right’ keeps them from finding deeper connection with each other. They want to constantly impress, which remains the driving force in their everyday lives,” said Carlos. “The only sign of community co-operation has been swapping food items with one another to create more variety in their diets.”

  “Working relationships have been established,” added Sylvia. “Some of the women have made use of each other’s talents to set themselves up in business, but the motivation has always been self-serving.”

  “The one exception has been Kelly. She has often opened up to us, and she’s made some progress,” concluded Carlos.

  “I understand,” said Jesus. “Most of these people will need a similar community for the next jubilee period. Only by consistently reaping the consequences of their self-centred attitudes will they come to recognise their need for change. Kelly will go to a more supportive environment. Her heart is clearly softening.”

  Jesus looked around the table. “All of you will be moving to new regions, and you will mostly have new members in your communities. The kindness you show them will keep drawing them to make better choices.”

  “And how have the children come on?” he asked, turning to Yvonne and Yan.

  “Well, it’s been an amazing fifty years,” enthused Yvonne. “We’ve watched the children grow up and flourish in the community.”

  “Thank you for providing the school and community environment that has allowed each of these children to grow into adults,” said Jesus. “They didn’t get the chance to acquire the skills and the knowledge needed to live as an individual in the Previous Age, but we love to see them mature on the New Earth.”

  “It was a privilege to help,” continued Yvonne. “We developed a curriculum that ensured they all made progress in reading, writing and arithmetic, so that they could then go on and research anything that interested them. We also made sure they learnt practical skills for cooking, making clothes, and taking care of their homes and their environment. And it often surprised us that they seemed to know agape love naturally without being taught.”

  “Indeed,” said Yan. “They were often the ones who took the lead in the learning process for the adults.”

  “It’s the great gift of childhood,” said Jesus with a twinkle in his eye. “Children carry innocence and wisdom into the world and help those who are older discover them again.”

  “Many of the adults had carried over various deep-seated issues from their experiences in their Previous Age, and on many occasions it was the children who helped identify these and initiate some of the healing.”

  “Yes,” said Yan. “As time went on, many of the adults were able to open up and talk with us, and we have been so pleased to see much progress in their journeys.”

  “And people have generally found their work enjoyable and satisfying,” said Yvonne. “Especially once they realised that the New Earth yields abundant crops without the backbreaking work of the Previous Age.”

  Jesus leaned back in his chair. “Yes, working to bring in the harvest for everyone is a great joy.”

  “Yes, even in our community and despite all its problems, the fields have yielded an abundance of crops,” said Bull.

  “The New Earth is able to yield the same in all of its many regions,” Jesus explained. “The providence of agape love makes sure that no one need go hungry. This was how things were in the Previous Age before some people’s greed and desire for resources left others with too little. And how have things been in the villages of Beulah, Anne and Harmony?”

  “At the beginning, the women were in a very fragile and vulnerable state,” said Harmony. “It’s taken many years for trust to be built, but we understand that the traumas they experienced will only be healed with patient loving kindness.”

  “Some seem to be in an ongoing state of victimhood,” continued Anne. “We recognise they are victims, of course, but we are looking for their identity to be rooted in who they are as whole people now, not as who they once were.”

  “Yes, this needs great sensitivity,” agreed Jesus. “Seeing oneself as a victim is deeply connected to shame and hurt, but it can also be linked with pride. It takes humility to release oneself from the need to always identify as a victim. It takes time to believe in a deeper identity, separate from whatever happened in the past.”